diff --git a/docs/recipes.rst b/docs/recipes.rst index 05776b4..15a5b37 100644 --- a/docs/recipes.rst +++ b/docs/recipes.rst @@ -709,6 +709,53 @@ Please note the example above requires Python 3. In Python 2, :func:`zip` doesn't support lazy evaluation so the script will simply hang. +Controlling the Pi's own LEDs +============================= + +On certain models of Pi (specifically the model A+, B+, and 2B) it's possible +to control the power and activity LEDs. This can be useful for testing GPIO +functionality without the need to wire up your own LEDs (also useful because +the power and activity LEDs are "known good"). + +Firstly you need to disable the usual triggers for the built-in LEDs. This can +be done from the terminal with the following commands:: + + $ echo none | sudo tee /sys/class/leds/led0/trigger + $ echo gpio | sudo tee /sys/class/leds/led1/trigger + +Now you can control the LEDs with gpiozero like so:: + + from gpiozero import LED + from signal import pause + + power = LED(35) + activity = LED(47) + + activity.blink() + power.blink() + pause() + +To revert the LEDs to their usual purpose you can either reboot your Pi or +run the following commands:: + + $ echo mmc0 | sudo tee /sys/class/leds/led0/trigger + $ echo input | sudo tee /sys/class/leds/led1/trigger + +.. note:: + + On the Pi Zero you can control the activity LED with this recipe, but + there's no separate power LED to control (it's also worth noting the + activity LED is active low, so set ``active_high=False`` when constructing + your LED component. + + On the original Pi 1 (model A or B), the activity LED can be controlled + with GPIO16 (after disabling its trigger as above) but the power LED is + hard-wired on. + + On the Pi 3B the LEDs are controlled by a GPIO expander which is not + accessible from gpiozero (yet). + + .. _Push Button Stop Motion: https://www.raspberrypi.org/learning/quick-reaction-game/ .. _Quick Reaction Game: https://www.raspberrypi.org/learning/quick-reaction-game/ .. _GPIO Music Box: https://www.raspberrypi.org/learning/gpio-music-box/